Zoology university rankings 2027
Swansea University is the best university for zoology in 2027, ahead of University of Plymouth and Royal Holloway, University of London. We ranked 37 universities on teaching, support, graduate pay and what it is like to live there.
- 1Swansea University, 132 points. 100% academic support and 79% satisfaction.
- 2University of Plymouth, 119 points. 100% teaching and 97% academic support.
- 3Royal Holloway, University of London, 114 points. 100% teaching and one of the safest cities.
The full ranking
Showing the top 10 of 37.
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Teaching quality92%13th of 37Academic support100%1st of 37Student satisfaction79%3rd of 37Graduate pay£22,50031st of 37Cost of living646th of 37City safety65.78th of 37Social life7815th of 37Sustainability69.35th of 37
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Teaching quality100%1st of 37Academic support97%5th of 37Student satisfaction75%16th of 37Graduate pay£24,00022nd of 37Cost of living679th of 37City safety59.117th of 37Social life7719th of 37Sustainability63.38th of 37
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Teaching quality100%1st of 37Academic support96%7th of 37Student satisfaction74%20th of 37Graduate pay£26,0008th of 37Cost of living7431st of 37City safety100.01st of 37Social life7423rd of 37Sustainability50.322nd of 37
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Teaching quality96%5th of 37Academic support95%8th of 37Student satisfaction84%2nd of 37Graduate pay£30,0001st of 37Cost of living6812th of 37City safety79.42nd of 37Social life7423rd of 37Sustainability28.434th of 37
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Teaching quality87%22nd of 37Academic support93%12th of 37Student satisfaction78%6th of 37Graduate pay£21,50035th of 37Cost of living634th of 37City safety74.44th of 37Social life7621st of 37Sustainability55.018th of 37
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Teaching quality89%16th of 37Academic support100%1st of 37Student satisfaction76%10th of 37Graduate pay£27,0005th of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety47.329th of 37Social life8110th of 37Sustainability64.67th of 37
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Teaching quality96%5th of 37Academic support90%21st of 37Student satisfaction73%27th of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living7329th of 37City safety57.019th of 37Social life834th of 37Sustainability62.89th of 37
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Teaching quality85%27th of 37Academic support81%31st of 37Student satisfaction79%3rd of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living679th of 37City safety66.77th of 37Social life7815th of 37Sustainability61.211th of 37
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Teaching quality90%15th of 37Academic support77%34th of 37Student satisfaction79%3rd of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living657th of 37City safety61.813th of 37Social life7330th of 37Sustainability72.24th of 37
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Teaching quality81%33rd of 37Academic support89%23rd of 37Student satisfaction76%10th of 37Graduate pay£23,00030th of 37Cost of living591st of 37City safety73.55th of 37Social life6836th of 37Sustainability62.210th of 37
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Teaching quality91%14th of 37Academic support93%12th of 37Student satisfaction74%20th of 37Graduate pay£23,50028th of 37Cost of living7228th of 37City safety55.722nd of 37Social life7423rd of 37Sustainability77.12nd of 37
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Teaching quality89%16th of 37Academic support93%12th of 37Student satisfaction72%32nd of 37Graduate pay£24,00022nd of 37Cost of living6812th of 37City safety51.527th of 37Social life834th of 37Sustainability68.66th of 37
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Teaching quality93%10th of 37Academic support100%1st of 37Student satisfaction75%16th of 37Graduate pay£24,50018th of 37Cost of living6812th of 37City safety57.118th of 37Social life8110th of 37Sustainability48.624th of 37
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Teaching quality88%18th of 37Academic support92%15th of 37Student satisfaction71%34th of 37Graduate pay£28,0004th of 37Cost of living6812th of 37City safety51.527th of 37Social life842nd of 37Sustainability60.412th of 37
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=11University of GloucestershireCheltenham, Gloucester
- Teaching
- 97%
- Satisfaction
- 76%
- Graduate pay
- £24,000
100Teaching quality97%4th of 37Academic support87%25th of 37Student satisfaction76%10th of 37Graduate pay£24,00022nd of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety61.912th of 37Social life7234th of 37Sustainability56.416th of 37 -
Teaching quality85%27th of 37Academic support97%5th of 37Student satisfaction74%20th of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living8035th of 37City safety63.011th of 37Social life7522nd of 37Sustainability56.815th of 37
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Teaching quality87%22nd of 37Academic support90%21st of 37Student satisfaction73%27th of 37Graduate pay£24,00022nd of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety44.134th of 37Social life827th of 37Sustainability82.61st of 37
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Teaching quality94%8th of 37Academic support91%18th of 37Student satisfaction70%35th of 37Graduate pay£24,00022nd of 37Cost of living7532nd of 37City safety60.814th of 37Social life7330th of 37Sustainability58.314th of 37
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Teaching quality85%27th of 37Academic support95%8th of 37Student satisfaction73%27th of 37Graduate pay£23,50028th of 37Cost of living6812th of 37City safety39.437th of 37Social life7815th of 37Sustainability77.03rd of 37
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Teaching quality94%8th of 37Academic support91%18th of 37Student satisfaction76%10th of 37Graduate pay£24,50018th of 37Cost of living7329th of 37City safety63.310th of 37Social life7423rd of 37Sustainability45.329th of 37
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Teaching quality87%22nd of 37Academic support84%29th of 37Student satisfaction74%20th of 37Graduate pay£30,0001st of 37Cost of living7532nd of 37City safety69.56th of 37Social life8110th of 37Sustainability43.230th of 37
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Teaching quality88%18th of 37Academic support91%18th of 37Student satisfaction70%35th of 37Graduate pay£26,0008th of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety44.134th of 37Social life851st of 37Sustainability59.813th of 37
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Teaching quality86%25th of 37Academic support78%33rd of 37Student satisfaction74%20th of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living6812th of 37City safety54.923rd of 37Social life842nd of 37Sustainability55.417th of 37
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Teaching quality93%10th of 37Academic support95%8th of 37Student satisfaction69%37th of 37Graduate pay£30,0001st of 37Cost of living9136th of 37City safety44.432nd of 37Social life7913th of 37Sustainability54.519th of 37
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Teaching quality88%18th of 37Academic support82%30th of 37Student satisfaction77%8th of 37Graduate pay£24,00022nd of 37Cost of living623rd of 37City safety64.59th of 37Social life6935th of 37Sustainability29.233rd of 37
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Teaching quality82%32nd of 37Academic support95%8th of 37Student satisfaction74%20th of 37Graduate pay£26,5007th of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety47.329th of 37Social life827th of 37Sustainability48.325th of 37
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Teaching quality77%34th of 37Academic support68%37th of 37Student satisfaction75%16th of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety60.615th of 37Social life834th of 37Sustainability53.620th of 37
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Teaching quality86%25th of 37Academic support92%15th of 37Student satisfaction73%27th of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living6812th of 37City safety53.626th of 37Social life7719th of 37Sustainability50.223rd of 37
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Teaching quality96%5th of 37Academic support79%32nd of 37Student satisfaction74%20th of 37Graduate pay£22,00033rd of 37Cost of living668th of 37City safety56.620th of 37Social life7423rd of 37Sustainability52.721st of 37
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Teaching quality100%1st of 37Academic support100%1st of 37Student satisfaction73%27th of 37Graduate pay£22,50031st of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety54.824th of 37Social life7423rd of 37Sustainability38.131st of 37
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Teaching quality88%18th of 37Academic support88%24th of 37Student satisfaction75%16th of 37Graduate pay£24,50018th of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety54.824th of 37Social life827th of 37Sustainability45.728th of 37
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Teaching quality75%36th of 37Academic support85%27th of 37Student satisfaction77%8th of 37Graduate pay£25,00010th of 37Cost of living7934th of 37City safety60.516th of 37Social life7913th of 37Sustainability47.127th of 37
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Teaching quality83%30th of 37Academic support85%27th of 37Student satisfaction76%10th of 37Graduate pay£27,0005th of 37Cost of living6919th of 37City safety46.731st of 37Social life7815th of 37Sustainability47.526th of 37
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Teaching quality83%30th of 37Academic support87%25th of 37Student satisfaction88%1st of 37Graduate pay£24,50018th of 37Cost of living612nd of 37City safety56.321st of 37Social life6537th of 37Sustainability21.437th of 37
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Teaching quality76%35th of 37Academic support77%34th of 37Student satisfaction78%6th of 37Graduate pay£22,00033rd of 37Cost of living679th of 37City safety78.43rd of 37Social life7330th of 37Sustainability24.036th of 37
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Teaching quality93%10th of 37Academic support92%15th of 37Student satisfaction76%10th of 37Graduate pay£21,00036th of 37Cost of living634th of 37City safety43.836th of 37Social life7423rd of 37Sustainability25.935th of 37
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Teaching quality73%37th of 37Academic support73%36th of 37Student satisfaction72%32nd of 37Graduate pay£20,50037th of 37Cost of living9136th of 37City safety44.432nd of 37Social life7330th of 37Sustainability37.532nd of 37
What the ranking shows
- Swansea University leads by 13 points. Its strongest results are 100% academic support and 79% satisfaction.
- The best-paid graduates are not at the top. Three universities share the highest graduate pay at £30,000, but none of them makes the top three.
- Four universities score 100% for academic support, including Swansea University in the top three.
- Bangor is the cheapest place to live, with a cost-of-living index of 59. London scores 91.
How the ranking works
We rank each university on eight measures: teaching quality, academic support, student satisfaction, graduate pay, cost of living, city safety, social life and sustainability. The ranks are added together and the highest total ranks first. Lower living costs count as better, and universities with the same total share a place. Read the full methodology.
Four things to check before you apply
- Royal Society of Biology accreditation. Some zoology degrees are accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. Accreditation applies to specific programmes, so check the page for the exact course you want.
- Fieldwork and field trips. Field courses vary in location, length and cost. Check which trips are compulsory, where they go and whether you pay extra.
- Entry requirements. Biology is almost always required, and most courses want a second science or maths. Check the grades and accepted subjects on the course page.
- Placements and research projects. Look for a placement year, an integrated master's option or a final-year research project. These give you practical experience.
Questions students ask
Which is the best university for zoology in the UK?
Swansea University ranks first in our 2027 zoology ranking with a score of 132, ahead of University of Plymouth (119) and Royal Holloway, University of London (114).
What A-levels do you need for zoology?
Biology is required for almost all zoology degrees. Most courses also ask for or prefer a second subject such as chemistry, maths, geography or environmental science. Check each course page.
What jobs can you get with a zoology degree?
Graduates work in ecology, conservation, environmental consultancy, zoos, wildlife charities, research and science communication. Volunteering and fieldwork experience help alongside the degree.
What is the difference between zoology and biology?
Zoology focuses on animals, including their behaviour, evolution and ecology. Biology is broader and also covers plants, microbes and molecular biology. Marine biology focuses on life in the sea.
Can you become a vet with a zoology degree?
Not directly. You would need to complete a veterinary degree afterwards. Some vet schools offer graduate-entry courses, but places are limited and requirements vary.
Related rankings
Sources: University course pages, the Royal Society of Biology and the Graduate Outcomes survey. Graduate pay is measured about 15 months after finishing.
